Mixed Signal Scopes & Analyzers

BitScope PC Based Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes and Logic Analyzers are a popular choice for engineers and technicians working in manufacturing, testing, service and equipment repair.

Connected via USB, Ethernet or RS-232, they are widely used in R&D in applications ranging from fusion research to embedded systems design, process monitoring, undergraduate university labs and customized data acquisition. Larger BitScopes are housed in robust extruded aluminium desktop cases offering full EMI protection.

Whether it's the rough and tumble of a typical student lab or hard at work in a heavy engineering workshop, BitScopes are built to take the hard knocks.

BitScopes are an investment built to last a lifetime too. There are units first deployed more than 12 years ago still in active service and all 23 models since the award winning original are compatible with the latest software.

Key to BitScope is the virtual machine at the heart of every model. It means they can be upgraded and extended without the need for firmware upgrades or hardware replacement and software written for one model will work with any other with very few modifications. This makes them ideal for use in custom data acquisition applications or with open source software. It is even possible to program the VM in BitScope directly for completely custom solutions which do not rely on third party software or libraries.

The larger models support a range of standard oscilloscope probes and accessories with connection via both BNC terminated analog inputs and IDC-26 based Smart Port connector. The SmartPOD provides access to 2 or 4 analog channels, 8 logic channels, power, ground and I/O control signals in the same way regardless of the BitScope model.

The smaller models BS10 and BS05 both have industry standard 1M/20pF analog inputs but no BNC connectors. However, BNC adapters can be used to connect standard oscilloscope probes to these models as well.

The differential probe has dual analog prescalers and very high input impedance (10M/5pF) which together with twisted pair inputs makes for exceptionally sensitive and quiet analog signal capture, comparable to high quality coaxial oscilloscope probes without the bulk or cost. The sensitivity is convenient when measuring small shunt voltages for making current measurements for example.

For an even smaller go anywhere solution there is BitScope Micro. Like all BitScopes it's a full mixed signal oscilloscope, waveform and clock generator. It's a light weight and compact scope in a probe housed in a water resistant heat shrink case ideal for throwing in the kit bag for use in the field. Its very low current USB powered design makes it ideal for use with notebooks on battery power in the field.

Original Award Winning Design

The first award winning BitScope design was published in Circuit Cellar. This original BitScope had two analog inputs and a fixed 25 MSps A/D convertor plus 8 logic channels operating synchronously with the analog channel.

Initially released as a DIY kit, BitScope became very popular with electronics enthusiasts around the world.

This was followed by the classic BS300 which offered an improved A/D, Ethernet and USB options. This design is still published online so you can learn how it works. BitScopes have come along way since then but they all share the same core design.

Unified Mixed Signal Architecture

There have been many new models since the original, each one adding new features and capabilities, but all of them are based on the same Digital&plus;Analog Virtual Machine. This why they all work with the same powerful BitScope Software. For example, BitScope Mini packs lot in its tiny case but it works the same way as the larger models.

Whether it's this model or one of the larger versions such as BS120, BS325 or BS445, they all capture logic concurrently with analog because they are all members of the same programmable mixed signal product family.

Multi-platform Software Solutions

DSO integrates a mixed signal and storage oscilloscope, logic analyzer, waveform generator and spectrum analyzer in one easy to use software application but there are many other applications available for BitScope.

The only programming differences relate to hardware specifications (e.g. channels, sample rates, buffer sizes etc) so maintaining software solutions for many different models or upgrading software to new host platforms is easy.

It means custom software developed for BitScope data acquisition systems will last the distance as future models will always be based on the same API.

Of course, for those who prefer more packaged solutions we also offer the BitScope Applications Library for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. With bindings for C/C++, Python, Pascal among others, the library make integrating BitScope with third party systems or developing application specific software solutions very easy.

BitScope Data Acquisition Systems

BitScope is not just for test & measurement, it's designed for data acquisition too.

For example DSO can be used as a Data Recorder and when connected to our network models is capable of manage dozens of BitScopes simultaneously, a capability which in university labs or large data acquisition and process monitoring applications can be extremely useful.

Connected via a standard LAN BS445 or any other Network BitScope model can be used to build large high speed acquisition systems with rack mount kits available.

More recently we've made it possible to use any BitScope as the basis for a networked test, measurement and data acquisition system. The new BitScope Server adds remote networked access and shared use for any BitScope regardless of whether it is a serial, USB or LAN connected model.